UK agriculture group urges GM events solution

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has once again called on the European Commission to propose a technical solution for non-EU authorised genetically modified (GM) events in imported materials.

Ian Henderson, chairman of AIC Scotland Feed Sector said, ''The GM issue is putting more and more pressure onto feed supplies in Scotland''.

In addition to denying the feed industry access to a full range of GM corn and soy, EU rules mean that it costs GBP200 (US$306) to test the GM status of a batch of imports and a further GBP200 to prove the batch contains less than 1% GM. Also, there is the cost of disposal of contaminated imports.

A report by EU food and feed trade associations suggests that the total disruption of soy supplies could be costing the two industries GBP5 billion (US$7.6 billion) and the UK feed trade GBP60 million (US$92 million).

With persistent input from AIC and further support from UK and EU trade associations, the issue has been pushed back onto the agenda of EU Farm Council meetings and standing committees.

Three GM events likely to disrupt soy imports from North America gained Commission approval late last year enabling trade to resume. An added benefit is the potential resumption of trade in corn by-products such as corn gluten and distiller's dark grains.

Many experts believe approval of these GM varieties averted a major feed supply issue for the UK and the EU and will allow AIC members and others to buy soy from North America.

However, AIC reckons this is not the end of the issue. New GM varieties are due to be grown in producing countries so permanent solutions are needed.